Rana says Chief of Defence Forces notification to be issued when PM returns

ISLAMABAD: Amid growing uncertainty and political tension, Rana Sanaullah, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs said on Monday that the notification for the newly established post of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) will be issued when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returns from his overseas visit.

The delay in announcing the CDF appointment, created under the 27th Amendment, has sparked speculations – especially as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Syed Asim Munir’s three-year term came to an end on November 29.

With two days having passed since his tenure concluded, the government remains tight-lipped, fuelling controversy over who will be made the new CDF. Gen Munir is widely believed to be the front-runner for the newly created post, which carries a five-year term.

Speaking outside the Parliament House, Sanaullah sought to quell mounting speculation, insisting that the process would unfold methodically and without haste. “The Constitution comes first, followed by the law, and then the rules. Every step must be taken with precision,” he said, stressing the importance of adhering to due process before any decisions are made.

He pointedly noted that discussions surrounding the new CDF are ongoing, adding, “There’s a clear distinction between issues under consideration and those that have been decided. Multiple options are always on the table, and until a final decision is reached, no notification can be issued.”

According to the constitutional amendment, the term of the CDF will officially begin once the notification is issued – a matter that remains unresolved as the clock ticks on.

Sanaullah was quick to address one of the more persistent rumours – allegations that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, currently in London, is the mastermind behind the hold-up. “This impression is entirely incorrect,” he said firmly. “Sharif has never raised any objections regarding the CDF. Any remarks attributed to him on the matter have been misinterpreted and are unrelated to the current discussions.”

As for Prime Minister Sharif’s return, he said that he would return “in a day or so,” but providing no firm date. The Prime Minister had not returned to Pakistan by the time this report was filed.

Meanwhile, Sanaullah also shared details of a contentious meeting with a delegation from the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the National Assembly Speaker’s chamber.

He revealed that the delegation was urged to wait for the Prime Minister’s return to resolve the issue of their meeting with Imran Khan in jail.

However, Sanaullah expressed his dismay that, immediately after the delegation’s departure, a threat had been received from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. “Under such circumstances, no meeting can be permitted, especially when disruptive behaviour persists,” he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025